STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1197

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1382

H.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1382, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEAT DONATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Provide for the donation of wild game to under-resourced communities;

(2) Establish a meat processing task force to develop and implement a masterplan to expand meat processing capacity in the State; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the meat processing task force.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation; Department of Agriculture; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; one member of the County Council of the County of Maui; Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that axis deer is an invasive species in the State, which is especially prolific in the County of Maui. Axis deer eat cattle food sources, agricultural crops, contribute to soil erosion through over grazing, and threaten native plant species. Your Committee additionally finds that nonprofit organizations that aim to fight hunger in the State often lack fresh sources of animal protein to offer and make available for residents in need. The intent of this measure is to tackle these two issues simultaneously by encouraging the reduction of the axis deer population on Maui and providing locally-sourced meat to the State's hungry and undernourished. This measure also establishes and appropriates funds for a meat processing task force to develop and execute a masterplan to increase meat processing in the State, which aligns with the State's mandate to bolster local agricultural sustainability and food security in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1382, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair